Washington (CNN) – The Internal Revenue Service has identified two "rogue" employees in the agency's Cincinnati office as being principally responsible for "overly aggressive" handling of requests by conservative groups for tax-exempt status, a congressional source told CNN.

In a meeting on Capitol Hill, acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller described the employees as being "off the reservation," according to the source. It was not clear precisely what the alleged behavior involved.

Washington (CNN) – Two U.S. senators, a Democrat and a Republican, announced on Wednesday they had reached a compromise on expanding background checks on firearms buyers to include gun shows and Internet sales.

The deal reached by Sens. Joe Manchin, D-West Virginia, and Pat Toomey, R-Pennsylvania, sets up the likelihood of a major Senate debate on gun legislation starting as soon as Thursday, when the chamber is expected to overcome a GOP filibuster attempt to block the proposals.

Washington (CNN) – Almost six weeks after the Connecticut shooting rampage that killed 20 first-graders, Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday proposed a new federal ban on some assault rifles and semi-automatic weapons, as well as ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

With assault rifles and semi-automatic rifles displayed on one side and police officers who support her proposal behind her, Feinstein said the goal is to "dry up the supply of these weapons over time."

Washington (CNN) - President Barack Obama and congressional leaders will discuss the looming fiscal cliff impasse Friday at the White House, spokespeople for the president and House Speaker John Boehner said.

The meeting will come days before the deadline to reach a deal that would prevent automatic tax increases and spending cuts, and after another day of Republicans and Democrats blaming each other for the stalemate.

Washington (CNN) – In the chess match of the fiscal cliff negotiations, President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner are narrowing the divide between their positions while contending with discontent among their respective ranks.

Boehner on Tuesday proposed what recently was the unthinkable for Republicans - letting tax rates go up on income above $1 million as a short-term step to avoid some of the fiscal cliff while continuing to negotiate a broader deal.

Washington (CNN) – It's crunch time for avoiding the fiscal cliff, with President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner and their aides holding private talks on issues that will affect every American.

Three weeks remain to cut a deal before the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts of the fiscal cliff go into effect on January 1.

Washington (CNN) – Taxes on the wealthy are going up, House Speaker John Boehner conceded on Wednesday in challenging President Barack Obama to sit down with him to hammer out a deal for avoiding the fiscal cliff.

Obama, however, continued to insist on Republicans first ensuring no tax hike for anyone but the top 2% of Americans as a first step toward a broader agreement on tackling the nation's chronic federal deficits and debt.

Washington (CNN) - Negotiations on a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff got a jump-start on Monday with House Republicans offering a counter-proposal to President Barack Obama, but continuing to reject his call for higher tax rates on the wealthy.

The GOP proposal would result in $2.2 trillion in deficit savings over the next decade, including $800 billion from tax reform, $600 billion from Medicare reforms and other health savings, and $600 billion in other spending cuts, House GOP leadership aides told reporters.